Tkachuk scored the winner on his 38th birthday, and the St.Louis maintained slim playoff hopes with a victory over Edmonton last night.

Tkachuk's 13th of the season was his first in 15 games. It snapped a 1-1 tie 7:36 into the third period. Tkachuk has 54 points in 63 career games against Edmonton.

"It's a big win at home. We're still alive, and you get on the board, finally," Tkachuk said. "It seems like a long time, so it's nice to contribute."

The 10th-place Blues began the day 10 points behind Colorado and the postseason cutoff in the Western Conference. St. Louis has seven games remaining.

Tkachuk gave the Blues reason to believe with his clutch goal. Parked in front of the crease with his back to the net along with Brad Winchester, Tkachuk redirected a shot by Alex Steen that was tipped by Winchester.

"It was a great shot and a great high screen by Winchester and a great shot by Steen," Tkachuk said. "It was a critical part of the game. You've got to teach these young guys how to go to the tough areas to score goals."

Blues coach Davis Payne marveled at Tkachuk's skills.

"There's an art to it. There's body position, there's willingness to go there," Payne said. "He's given up a few teeth we know in order to get there and score some. Just a typical Keith Tkachuk goal."

Sharks 4, Avalanche 3 San Jose win comeswithout Thornton

Devin Setoguchi had two goals, and San Jose won without injured leading scorer Joe Thornton.

Thornton, tops on the team with 66 assists and 85 points, sat out after being knocked out in the second period of Saturday's win over Vancouver by an undisclosed lower body injury. Thornton had played in 398 consecutive games.

OTHER GAMES

• Flames 5, Capitals 3 - Miikka Kiprusoff made 31 saves and Calgary, desperate for wins as it chases a playoff spot, salvaged a three-game trip that began with two losses.

• Penguins 5, Maple Leafs 4, SO - Sidney Crosby ended a seven-game stretch without a goal by scoring twice, then joined Pascal Dupuis with shootout goals for Pittsburgh.